Two held for ‘stealing’ batteries in LASTMA yard

The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) has arrested 24-year-old Hakeem Fatai for allegedly stealing batteries from the Ojota Area Office of Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA)

Its operatives, who acted on a tip-off by the LASTMA’s management about the missing batteries from their premises, laid siege for the suspect and caught him while attempting to remove another battery from an impounded bus.

The Nation learnt that over 20 batteries have been removed from impounded vehicles parked withing the authority’s premises within two weeks.

On arrival at the RRS’ Headquarters, the suspect owned up that he operated with an accomplice he identified as Yahoo, now at large.

RRS quoted him as saying: “Yes I am responsible for the missing batteries. But I didn’t work alone. We are two and our targeted vehicle was Volkswagen bus because its batteries can be removed easily without much stress. We don’t usually go for trailer for its battery is protected with burglary”.

The suspect, who was picked-up around 2am on Friday by the operatives, said that he always scale the agency’s fence to access the compound and remove the batteries while his accomplice stayed outside.

“We have devised our operation to the extent that no one could suspect us while committing the crime inside the premises. We know the exact time to scale the fence because their security guards are too fond of sleeping. We capitalised on their inefficiency to strike,” he said.

The RRS led him to arrest the receiver of the stolen items, Nofiu Oriade, 46, on Saturday.

According to the RRS, Oriade claimed ignorant of the crime, saying that he never knew those batteries were stolen items.

“I was ignorant of the sources of those batteries. I thought he was a scavenger who picked up any unused items from refuse dump. I don’t know he is a thief. I have regretted my action to have been collecting those batteries from him,” he said.

Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said the suspects have been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.